What characterizes delivery complications associated with nuchal cord?

The delivery complication associated with nuchal cord is characterized by an increased chance of shoulder dystocia. A nuchal cord, which occurs when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck, can lead to challenges during delivery due to the cord potentially limiting movement and causing tightness that may obstruct the baby's descent through the birth canal. This can hinder the adequate positioning of the shoulders during delivery, leading to shoulder dystocia, where the shoulders become lodged behind the pubic bone.

In contrast, reduced APGAR scores, although possible in some cases of nuchal cord due to potential oxygen deprivation during delivery, are not a direct characteristic of nuchal cord itself. Increased risk of uterine atony relates more to complications in the third stage of labor rather than the second stage, and delayed delivery of the placenta is not specifically tied to nuchal cord complications. Thus, the increased chance of shoulder dystocia is a direct consequence of the mechanics involved when the cord is wrapped around the neck, making it the correct characterization of complications associated with nuchal cord.